Chapter 79

0001 - Tempro
0003 - Conner- Thomas
0097 - Ace - Zimmel
0098 - Lucy
0101 - Shelby (mother ship)
0125 - Lars
0130 - Gillese
0200 - Ellen
0250 - Tendra
0301 - Rodrick
0403 - Johnathon
0778 - Jan
0798 - Celeste - Shelby (human)
0805 - Toran
0808 - Radella
0881 - Handrax
0908 - Tara - Mara
1000 - Sherry

Ungrown - unnumbered

0100 - Derry (father ship)
Rescued from Tendraxians
so far

4 on Shelby 2 in re-gen
8 on Lucy

Known and OR numbered

0501 - Thaddeus
???? - Lena

missing - 0667 - Marco
0999 - Zan - still lost

Duke Risen was doing all that he could to hold his temper in check. As soon as they had entered the hive, the wasp like guard had left him alone in a small room. Trying to be patient the Duke waited and waited, the first few hours weren’t that bad. It was the last three hours that had made the Duke completely pissed off.

Risen had already pulled several weapons though as of yet hadn’t killed anything. That though was about to seriously change. The moment he heard the door start to open he started firing his fully charged weapon.

It wasn’t ‘til well over thirty bodies littered the hall outside, that a raspy female voice was heard.

“So, I can see that you are much like your sire. This has furthered the bond between my subjects and you.” The voice said.

Risen smirked, carefully deciding just what to say. “I suggest that, if you wish to not have to replace most of your soldiers, you not make me wait longer.”

“Our apologies, it was wished to learn your intent...” the voice continued.

Risen’s face screwed into a look of rage as he started to fire, killing at least another twenty.

“I either speak to the actual queen or I will kill everything that comes near me.” Risen spit.

“How dare you I am...” the voice started.

“Cut the crap! The real queen would never apologize to me, she is far above that.” Risen said as he killed another twenty soldiers.

There was a sigh then another far raspier female voice spoke to him. “You are correct humanoid, If you can deliver on that which you have said, then you will be welcome. Though your extermination of the many soldiers will further the readiness of the colony, you will be safely escorted to me.”

“I might suggest that you keep that escort to a minimum. I have seen something of this before, I guarantee, betray me? I will take as many as I can. You might also find, several large openings in the walls as I make my way to you. I do not take betrayal well at all.” Risen said.

“There will be no betrayal, humanoid offspring of our savior. No harm will befall you.” The raspy female voice said.

Risen thought a moment more than smiled, pulling the trigger he slaughtered another forty soldiers. “I think I will make my way to you, no escort.” With that Risen shot another twenty before the hall was clear. “I mean it if I see even a hint of a soldier, I will make quick work of you then this colony, I have the fire power.”

After that Risen found the halls eerily quiet and empty, though through the scans he was getting he knew they were there. Less than an hour later Risen entered a huge room that he saw was almost directly center of the colony.

In the center of that room, was what appeared to be a much larger version of the wasp like creatures from before. Risen nodded as he saw a great many that were attending the creature.

“Ah!” Came the raspy feminine voice, “you made it here far faster than we thought you would.”

A cautious bow to the creature, Risen stood his ground as several creatures approached him. All of them bounced off knocked back well over twenty meters, a few lightly burned.

It was when the sound of several weapons being powered up, that caused Risen to destroy several of those with weapons.

“You have to surrender your weapons; it is not allowed in the presence of the queen!” A slightly larger looking soldier creature said.

“I suggest that if you do not wish to clean this chamber of a great many bodies, you lower your weapons and shut up!” Risen hissed as he pointed his weapon at the speaker.

“My Queen...!” The speaker started, then quieted when the queen held up an appendage.

“You are greatly like you pre-sire, as we remember he also did not surrender his. Clear this chamber of all soldiers!” Came the queen’s raised voice.

Amid a great grumbling the room was quickly cleared of almost all the creatures. Again, Risen slightly bowed, he needed to conclude this as soon as possible, the stench was making him a bit nauseous.

“I have brought all the plans for your ships, weapons and suits. I also have some of the material that will allow you to grow them. I am sorry that I only have a few pounds, though I understand that is all you will need to start.” Risen said.

The Queen nodded what Risen assumed was a head. “What do you wish for payment for all this?” The Queen asked.

“Only that you remove that bastard fake to the throne. That you kill him slowly, piece by piece. I wish to be there as you slowly take him apart.” Risen growled.

What appeared to be a smile appeared on what Risen assumed was a face. “It will be so, are common enemy shall die a most painful death, that I can guarantee.” The Queen said.

“I will leave everything outside my ship for your people to collect.” Risen said as he turned.

Close to the door, the large soldier suddenly lunged at Risen with a large, sharp, wicked looking blade. Backing into the chamber Risen smiled, this one he was going to enjoy destroying.

“Queen, if I destroy this stupid one, will you be angered?” Risen said with a smile.

“Not at all, it will save me the trouble for his disobedience,” the Queen said.

“I claim the right to kill you humanoid, for the dishonor you have shown the Queen.” The soldier said.

“I only see two things wrong with that, one: you disobeyed her orders.” Risen said

“Ha! She will forgive when I gut you. You said two things,” the soldier said.

“Oh yeah, you’re too stupid to realize you’re dead.” With that there was a loud whine as the soldier lunged. A small explosion sounded as the top half of the soldier collided then passed most of the way through Risen’s shield. The impact took Risen to the floor, with what was left of the unmoving soldier covering Risen. Another whine then most of what was left was blown off him.

On his feet Risen almost ran from the room. At a full run Risen made the opening in less than twenty minutes. He’d already injected several vials into his arm, though they were only slowing the poison. Still at a run Risen had already activated his ship.

“I need a status report,” the Duke growled.

“Hyper drive is finished, trans-warp will require at least two more hours. Weapons are still active though only at seventy five percent.” The monotone voice stated.

“Good, keep all shields on standby. I need you to produce the plans for Ve-001 through 010. I will also need the living organic material that is in stasis.” Risen said.

“Compliance, now commencing procurement.” The computer’s voice said.

“I also need the full antidote to the Vorlon poison.” Risen said.

“Now commencing antidote, time to completion, five hours.” The computer voice stated.

With the ship finally in view Risen lowered the defenses entering the ship. Shit he thought another four hours ‘til it was done. Looking at the vials he had, he saw that he’d just make it.

With a sigh Risen shook his head, it was going to be a long day.

Kimon Dempsey sighed as the two bodies slammed against the wall again. He watched as both the male and female sprung up with what appeared to be renewed energy.

They both, moved into defensive positions their legs slightly shaking, as their teacher stated to move toward them. “Hold Greeson.” Kimon said as he advanced toward the three. Greeson had already sat in a meditative position when Kimon stopped before them.

A look at Jimison and Difina, had the both of them lowering their heads. They both had seen the slightly irritated, disappointed look in his eyes.

“It has been almost two weeks now, neither of you are even near to where you need to be. There is no hope of learning the more advanced moves, if you cannot move past where you are.” Pushing a finger into both their fore heads he said, “the both of you have to think, then forget what your eyes see. Feel what is there, then and only then can you go forward. Go, rest, remember what I have said, reach out feel, discover.”

Both bowed to Kimon then slowly walked out. As always there were more than a few Delcron males waiting at the opening to the training area.

Kimon was about to speak to Greeson when there were several shouts of pain. This was followed by several thuds to the wall with a few more screams.

A small grin came to Kimon’s face that quickly vanished. “I had hoped that they would have discovered it by now.”

“Master?” Greeson asked.

“Speak,” Kimon said.

“Perhaps, they are trying, far harder than they should? As I remember when I was training, I was trying as hard as I could to advance, far faster than my mind was allowing me. Perhaps, they need to relax to gain?” Greeson said.

“Hmmm,” Kimon said in thought. “Perhaps you are right. I will see to it, go back to your intended for a day. I am sure that you also need to relax. I also need to speak to Oni, a task I do not relish. Though she realizes we have a duty to fulfill, after the years she has waited, I can feel her longing for our joining.”

Greeson could only nod at his master’s words. He had felt a slight irritation from his intended Mara also. Shaking his head, he felt for the enemy if their intendeds met them. Their irritation alone was scary, though full-blown anger? Here Greeson shook, that was something he hoped to not see.

Kimon watched Greeson’s reactions, he could almost guess what the man was thinking. He could see the slight shaking the man was experiencing, yeah, he was slightly afraid himself. Both females were formidable, angered? Well, that was something he felt with Greeson, he didn’t want to experience.

Kimon touched at wall bringing both Jimison and Difina’s images up. “I and you teacher have business to attend for the next two days, remember what I said. Train as if we are here, I will know if you do not.”

Both men left the room hearing low, faint rumblings from the crew. Near the end of the corridor, they were met by a rather large group of Delcrons.

Kimon shook his head tapping Greeson on the shoulder. “Do not kill them, well, as few as you can.”

“I will do my best master,” Greeson said as they approached the group. “You are interfering with us attending Empire business, move aside or spend time healing in your infirmary.”

An obvious leader stepped forward, even as another large group moved behind them. “We are over fifty of your numbers strong, we know that you cannot prevail.”

Kimon shook his head, turning to Greeson, “only fifty? I will allow you to handle this. Such a small group barely stirs my interest, let alone action from me.” Greeson nodded as Kimon sat on the floor.

“I warn you again before any are hurt.” Greeson said calmly only to have most of them laugh at him.

With a shrug Greeson seemed to disappear, then reappear thirty seconds later. The group in front of them were all wide eyed as they fell to the deck unconscious. Greeson turned to the group behind them, warning them again. Once more they laughed at him, again he shrugged, disappeared, then reappeared. The group behind were wide eyed as well as they all fell unconscious.

Kimon stood, looking around nodding his head. “Your control is better, not as sloppy as before. Though you killed none of them, you should have taken both groups. We will work on this when we return, luck with your intended.”

“I also wish you luck master, your intended is quite formidable.” Greeson said remembering his short sparring with Oni.

“I fear I will need far more than luck, my Gakusei, much more than luck.” Kimon said. Again, stepping to the wall, Kimon attuned a certain frequency. A moment later a cat / human face appeared. “Emperor Kandra,” Kimon said as he slightly bowed. “I am afraid that two groups decided that I and my student were easy prey. You might want to have several of the crew to attend to them. Greeson didn’t kill any though a few are severely injured.”

“I see,” Kandra said, “worry not, they will be dealt with. Safe travel, give your intendeds our regards.”

Kimon nodded with no surprise, the being was an emperor after all. As with the commander, information was knowledge, he with the most wins. Kimon could see that, like the commander, this being was keeping abreast of everything he could.

Kimon and Greeson moved to the far end of the ship, then a moment later seemed to vanish into thin air. Not far down the hallway there were several gasps of astonishment from those that were following. Kandra nodded as he clicked off the viewer, this new ally was going to be a most definite, benefit.